DRC - Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak 2024

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South Kivu: delivery of medicines against the Monkeypox epidemic to Kamituga hospitals

January 21, 2024

Kamituga, January 21, 2024 (ACP).- A batch of drugs against the Monkeypox (monkey pox) epidemic, donated by partners, was handed over on Saturday during a ceremony to hospitals and centers in the health zone of Kamituga, in South Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“ This batch of medicines that we have just acquired from our partners will be used to provide free treatment to patients who are hospitalized at the Monkeypox or monkey pox treatment center,” declared Dr. Léandre Mutimbwa Mambo, chief medical officer. of Kamituga health zone.

These drugs, which come from our partners, notably ALIMA, INRB and IMT, will help us fight the Monkeypox epidemic in the Kamituga health zone, said, for his part, Dr. Cris Kasita, in charge of drug operations. fights back against Monkeypox at the national level.

Since the start of the Monkeypox epidemic three months ago, the Kamituga health zone has already recorded 152 cases including two deaths. ACP/CL

https://acp.cd/sante/sud-kivu-remise-des-medicaments-contre-lepidemie-de-monkeypox-aux-hopitaux-de-kamituga/

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DRC: 663 deaths due to Monkeypox reported in 2023

January 23, 2024

Kinshasa, January 24, 2024 (ACP).- 663 deaths due to Monkeypox or monkey pox were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the year 2023, according to a report consulted Tuesday by the ACP.

“In 2023, the DRC recorded 14,499 cases of Monkeypox including 663 deaths, i.e. a case fatality rate of 4.57% ,” we read in the report from the epidemiological surveillance directorate of the general directorate for the fight against it. disease from the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention.

According to the same source, the provinces most affected by monkeypox are Equateur, Sankuru, Maï-Ndombe, Tshopo, Tshuapa, Sud-Ubangi, Kasaï, Maniema, Bas-Uélé, Mongala, Kwango and South Kivu.

Furthermore, to prevent this disease, it is recommended to observe hygiene measures, namely regular washing of hands with soap and water, avoiding any handling of animals found dead or showing signs of the disease as well as as any physical or sexual contact with the sick person.

Monkeypox is a rare viral disease occurring primarily in primates with the possibility of affecting humans. It causes a rash with pustules, sores, as well as fever and fatigue.

This disease is contracted through direct contact with infected animals, their bodily fluids, or through exposure of their infected tissues when treating sick primates. ACP/Kayu

https://acp.cd/sante/rdc-663-deces-dus-au-monkeypox-notifies-en-2023/

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South Kivu/Monkeypox: The bar of 180 cases crossed in Kamituga

Thursday February 1, 2024 - 09:20

A total of 12 new cases of monkeypox were recorded in the Kamituga health zone in Mwenga territory in South Kivu province in the space of a week.
These new cases notified during the 4th epidemiological week of 2024 bring the cumulative number of monkeypox cases in this part of South Kivu to 186 including 2 deaths.

Statistics which were made public this Wednesday, January 31, 2024 in the weekly report on epidemiological surveillance in South Kivu.

“The Kamituga health zone has been in an epidemic since the 39th week of 2023. We are mobilized with partners to provide a response to this epidemic (of monkeypox, editor's note). Apart from the 12 new cases, we had already recorded 174 cases and 2 deaths ,” said Justin Begheya, head of office in charge of health information and epidemiological surveillance at the South Kivu provincial health division.

He specifies that human-to-human contamination is aggravated in Kamituga by the fact that traditional practitioners and prayer rooms “sequester the sick”.

Justin Bagheya calls on the population to send sick people to health facilities for free care.

The 4th epidemiological week of 2024 was also marked by the recording of new cases of measles and cholera in several health zones of South Kivu.

Déogratias Cubaka, in Bukavu

https://7sur7.cd/2024/02/01/sud-kivumonkeypox-la-barre-de-180-cas-franchie-kamituga

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DRC-Health: South Kivu records new cases of MonkeyPox

Friday February 9, 2024 - 6:17 p.m.

The province of South Kivu is facing new contaminations of monkeypox in several health zones. In one week, more than ten cases were confirmed in the Kamitunga health zone, in Mwenga territory.

Begeya Justin, head of the health information and epidemiological surveillance office of the South Kivu provincial health division, mentions more than 170 cases declared positive for monkeypox including 2 deaths.

“Indeed, in Kamituga, since the 39th week of 2024, and the population continues to be contaminated by this epidemic. With our partners, we continue to mobilize to find exact solutions that can help us effectively fight monkeypox. Currently, we have recently recorded 175 cases,” he said.

In October 2023, the provincial coordination of environment and sustainable development of South Kivu announced the suspension of hunting activities in the province, with the aim of preventing the spread of Monkeypox, following the confirmation of several cases in the province. region. This measure aimed to reduce the risk of contact between humans and infected animals which are vectors.

Overall, the province of South Kivu is one where Monkeypox continues to spread, according to the WHO in its 2023 end-of-year report.

In the DRC, more than 12,569 suspected cases have been recognized as positive, including 581 deaths, according to the national ministry of health.

Jean Marie Makuma

https://actualite.cd/2024/02/09/rdc-sante-le-sud-kivu-enregistre-de-nouveaux-cas-de-monkeypox

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DRC: more than 1,000 cases of Monkeypox reported since the start of the year

February 11, 2024

Kinshasa, February 11, 2024 (ACP).- 1,134 cases of Monkeypox (monkey pox) have been recorded since the beginning of 2024 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, declared Saturday the director of the national program to fight this disease, during a brainstorming meeting on supporting the national response to the cholera and Monkeypox epidemics.

“ Since the start of 2024, the country has recorded 1,134 suspected cases of Monkeypox including 99 deaths with a case fatality rate of 8.7%. Every year the country experiences an increase in cases of this disease ,” said Dr. Robert Shungu, director of the Monkeypox Control Program.

He said that the most affected provinces are Bas-Uele, Equateur, Kasaï, Kasaï Oriental, Kinshasa, Maï-Ndombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Sankuru, Sud- Kivu, South Ubangi, Tshopo and Tshuapa.

Dr Shungu noted that children under 15 are more affected by this disease and represent 68% of suspected cases. “ Young boys are more affected than girls because today, the contamination of this disease is more sexual ,” continued this doctor.

He underlined that the challenges to be overcome include the centralization of analysis centers, the delay in biological detection, the stock shortage of materials and sample collection reagents in the majority of health zones as well as the difficulties of transport of samples from rural areas to Kinshasa.

In terms of prospects, Director Shungu stressed that the program provides, among other things, for updating the Monkeypox Response and Response Plan and improving “One Health” surveillance.
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https://acp.cd/sante/rdc-plus-de-1-000-cas-de-monkeypox-notifies-depuis-le-debut-de-lannee/

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South Kivu: “a new strain of Monkeypox isolated in Kamituga”, Epidemiologist Léandre

written by Rédaction February 19, 2024

Humanity in general, and more specifically the South Kivu province, is facing a new Clade I strain of monkeypox...Since September 2023, a Monkeypox epidemic has been reported in the Kamituga health zone.

Several cases were confirmed by PCR at INRB Goma and the medical world was still unsure whether it was which strain of monkey pox, given that the mode of transmission of monkey pox in Kamituga was revealed to be different from other modes of transmission reported nationally for affected regions.

In an interview with Labeur Info, Researcher Leandre Murhula, specialist in the ecology of Monkey Pox and who is carrying out research on this epidemic in Kamituga, indicates that since the start of this monkeypox, he has carried out the sequencing of the virus using modern technologies Nanopore advances.

“As a result and after advanced bioinformatics analyses, a new strain of monkey pox was isolated in Kamituga,” he explains.

This researcher recalls that the Kamituga health zone remains under a Monkeypox epidemic and the chain of transmission is far from being controlled.

He requests consistent and lasting support from the competent authorities.

Abiud Olinde

https://labeur.info/sud-kivu-une-nouvelle-souche-de-monkeypox-a-ete-isolee-a-kamituga-epidemiologue-leandre/

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Three questions for the Director of the National Monkeypox Control Program

February 26, 2024

Kinshasa, February 26, 2024 (ACP).- The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing at the start of 2024 a resurgence of the Monkeypox or monkey pox epidemic which affects 23 of the country's 26 provinces.

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the simian orthopoxvirus. It can trigger a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes and fever. Most people recover completely, but some can develop severe forms of the disease. The first human case of this disease was discovered in 1970 in Bansakusu, in the province of Equateur, in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

To find out more about the epidemiological situation of Monkeypox in the DRC, the ACP approached Dr Robert Shongo, Director of the National Program to Combat Monkeypox and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (PNLMPOX-FHV).

Question 1: The DRC is currently the main focus of the Monkeypox epidemic in the world. What are the causes of the persistence of this epidemic and the increase in the number of cases each year?

Answer : the main cause of the resurgence of the Monkeypox epidemic and its persistence in the DRC is the lack of vaccination. This lack of vaccine means that the Monkeypox virus is circulating to such an extent that there are currently many cases, even among children.

Question 2: What is the epidemiological situation of Monkeypox in each affected province?

Answer: the epidemiological situation is as follows: 23 of the 26 provinces of the DRC are affected by Monkeypox, but the provinces of Equateur, Tshuapa, Sud-Ubangi, Mai-Ndombe and Sankuru are the most endemic.

In the rest of the provinces, there are also cases of Monkeypox, even in South Kivu which has never had cases.

In 2023, 14,700 cases of Monkeypox were reported, unlike 2022 when we recorded 5,000 cases and in 2024, in January alone, we recorded more than 1,000 cases. The Monkeypox situation is serious in the country.

Here is the number of suspected cases and deaths by province from week 1 to week 6 of 2024: Bas-Uélé: 9 suspected cases; Ecuador: 966 suspected cases and 120 deaths; Kasai: 12 cases; ⁠Kinshasa: 15 cases; Kasaï Oriental: 2 cases; ⁠Kwango: 3 cases; Kwilu: 3 cases; Lomami: 1 case; Maï-Ndombe: 75 cases and 4 deaths; ⁠Manièma: 61 cases; ⁠Mongala: 46 cases and 1 death; North Ubangi: 31 cases; Sankuru: 154 cases and 4 deaths; South Kivu: 66 cases and 1 death; South Ubangi: 233 cases and 16 deaths; Tshopo: 94 cases and 2 deaths; Tshuapa: 82 cases and 7 deaths.

Question 3 : How is the response to the epidemic organized?

Answer: Regarding the response, since 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Monkeypox a global epidemic as more than 157 countries have been affected.

Although the epidemic has decreased worldwide, in the DRC more and more cases are being recorded. And the WHO has kept the DRC in level 2, that is to say a country which reports a lot of cases.

Since 2022, the Minister of Health, as part of the response, has created the resilient system by setting up a team with a well-developed plan and laboratories to fight Monkeypox.

Several partners are supporting the response to the epidemic, including the WHO, CDC Atlanta, the INRB (National Institute for Biomedical Research) and the Kinshasa School of Public Health.

This support comes in several forms, including the training of health professionals in the provinces affected by Monkeypox to obtain the capacity to take good samples and investigations. (Comments collected by Déborah Lusamba and Geneviève Makulu)

https://acp.cd/sante/trois-questions-au-directeur-du-programme-national-de-lutte-contre-le-monkeypox-2/

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DRC: with more than 150 deaths, the case fatality rate due to Mpox has almost doubled in 2024

Wednesday February 28, 2024 - 10:47 p.m.

The case fatality rate due to the Monkeypox virus has almost doubled in the DRC since the start of 2024. It increased from 4.5% last year to 8.4℅ this year with 155 deaths in less than three months.

“In 2023, the DRC reported 14,000 suspected cases of Simian smallpox including 654 deaths with a lethality of 4.5%. While since January 2024, the country has already reported 1,853 suspected cases of Mpox with 155 deaths for a lethality of 8.4%,” reads the WHO press release.

The WHO also indicated that in the same year 2023, for the first time, the first case of transmission of monkeypox through sexual contact was reported. However, she believes that risk communication and community engagement are crucially important to address modes of transmission such as consumption of bushmeat and transmission through sexual contact.

However, on February 27, the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and some health sector organizations proceeded to develop a response plan for the MonkeyPox epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is what emerged from the discussions held in Kinshasa on February 26. These discussions focused on capitalizing on efforts and results related to the response against Mpox in the DRC.

Currently, Monkeypox is rampant in 23 out of 26 provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Jean-Marie Makuma

https://actualite.cd/2024/02/28/rdc-avec-plus-150-deces-le-taux-de-letalite-du-au-mpox-presque-double-en-2024

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OMS RDC@OMSRDCONGO
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Translated from French by Google

Today, more than 65 experts from all health backgrounds are evaluating & updating in Kinshasa the integrated national plan for preparation & response to the #Mpox 🇨🇩 epidemic. A process focused on the resilient “one health” strategy & the guarantee of #SécuritéSanitairePourTous .


...
In 2023, the DRC reported 14,000 presumed cases of Simian smallpox including 654 deaths (fatality: 4.5 %) . While since January 2024, the country has already reported 1,853 presumed cases of #mpox with 155 deaths, (lethality of 8.4 %) . Together, let's build a healthier future in the DRC !



6:33 AM · Feb 27, 2024
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Province de l'Équateur
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_%C3%89quateur

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MSF RDC@MSFcongo
Translated from French by Google

Faced with an outbreak of Measles and #Mpox in the Lotumbe area in équateur , MSF dispatched its emergency team to support the health authorities in the response. From 02/19 to 03/03, 171 patients with Mpox including 25 severe and 360 cases of Measles were treated.

9:41 AM · Mar 12, 2024

https://twitter.com/MSFcongo/status/1767576705684713769

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Equateur: 35 Monkey Pox deaths recorded in Bolomba since the start of the year

Published on Sun, 03/17/2024 - 1:13 p.m. | Modified on Sun, 03/17/2024 - 1:13 p.m.

At least 35 patients suffering from monkeypox or Monkey Pox have died since the start of the year, in the Monyeka health zone, territory of Bolomba (Equateur).

Several villagers who arrived in Mbandaka claim that signs of Monkey Pox appeared in Bolomba territory more than a year ago. But the Bokala group, in the Lusanganya sector, is among the areas most affected by the disease in the Monyeka health zone.

There have been more than 35 deaths in the community since January 2024, they noted.

The latest case reported is that of a pastor from the PATMOS Church, who died last Tuesday in the village of Bosilela, considered the current epicenter of the epidemic. The victim's body, in advanced putrefaction, was buried the same day.

But the next day, the father of the deceased also succumbed to the disease, while the three children of the late pastor were also admitted to a health center. They are in critical condition, witnesses contacted this weekend said.

The population, who fear the worst, deplore the indifference of the authorities and humanitarian workers.

The nurse in the village, about 3 kilometers from Bosilela, said he was overwhelmed because of the high number of patients and especially the lack of medication to treat the clinical signs of the patients.

The disease is thus spreading in this region due to lack of awareness and application of hygiene measures, according to sources contacted by Radio Okapi.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/03/17/actualite/sante/equateur-35-deces-de-monkey-pox-enregistres-bolomba-depuis-le-debut-de

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DRC: more than 360 suspected cases of MonkeyPox reported last week

Wednesday March 20, 2024 - 11:48

The epidemiological situation of the monkeypox epidemic (Monkey Pox), during the week of March 7 to 14 (S9) reports 365 new suspected cases and 14 deaths reported.

According to the public health emergency operation center, cumulative cases from the 1st epidemiological week to the 9th (H1-H9 2024) are 3,576 suspected cases and 264 deaths reported.

“153 new samples were analyzed in the lab, 72 of which were positive (47% positivity). The total number of samples analyzed is 625/3576, representing a testing rate of 17.4%. Children under 15 years old represent 70% of suspected cases and 88% of deaths. 59% are men (boys/men more affected in all age groups). And children 15 years old represent 49% of confirmed cases,” informs the report from the public health emergency operation center.

From week 1 to 9, 18 of 26 provinces (69%) and 113 of 519 Health Zones (22%) reported at least 1 suspected case.

In 2022, the country had reported 5,697 suspected cases of MonkeyPox, and 234 deaths (4.1% case fatality); in 2023, 14,626 suspected cases were reported, and 654 deaths (4.46%); and in 2024, from the 1st to the 9th epidemiological week, the country recorded 3,576 suspected cases; 264 deaths (7.4%).

Therese Ntumba

https://actualite.cd/2024/03/20/rdc-plus-de-360-cas-suspects-de-monkeypox-notifies-la-semaine-derniere